Aestheticism in the picture of dorian gray. Oscar Wilde's Aesthetics 2019-02-17

The Role of Aestheticism in Oscar Wilde's Picture of Dorian essay by Havok

The painter makes a picture of Dorian Gray, a fascinating piece that makes Dorian wish to stop aging. In the end, as a testament to the purely aesthetic life, the only legacy Dorian leaves behind—everything that identifies him as who he was—is his superficial jewelry. Once ugly, Dorian will have to fight to obtain something in this world. And here the snake would stand for Lord Henry. However, for all its transgressive delights, The Picture of Dorian Gray could easily be read as a profoundly moral book, even a cautionary tale against the dangers of vice.

Aestheticism in 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Jevon Swan on Prezi

At the heart of the aestheticism movement was the belief that art should not have any purpose other than to be beautiful. Mathematics was replaced with art and logic was replaced with creativity. Charles Darwin would most likely say that Dorian fails to maintain this crucial yin yang balance between aestheticism and morality and inevitably gives into his primitive animalistic instincts. As a result Dorian struggles with what is right and wrong because of his vanity. Eventually, as in the myth of Narcissus, such egotism has its consequences. He befriends him, and starts to paint him in all sorts of environments. To Dorian, Sibyl is her performance.

Aestheticism & Hedonism

. His sudden loss of affection offsets his previous vows of devotion and shocks the reader. Books are well written, or badly written. The protagonists of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' and 'Il Piacere' are both looking for pleasure in all aspects of life. Dorian exemplifies a regression in social intellect from his beginnings rather than the kind of transcendence hoped for by Arnold. Henry and Basil go with him to a dingy theatre to see Sibyl, but her performance is terrible.

Aestheticism in 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Jevon Swan on Prezi

For the sake of completeness, Wilde mentions two other doctrines that are part of Aestheticism as Vivian summarizes it: All bad art comes from returning to Life and Nature, and elevating them into ideals. Her performance is stiff and unfeeling and Dorian looks like a fool in front of his friends, to whom he boasted about her talent. It is the consciousness of the owner of beauty to his own wealth that triggers the boundless fear of perishing--fear that causes his doom. Dorian also helps Basil realize his artistic potential, as the portrait of Dorian that Basil paints proves to be his masterpiece. Due to the altering of the portrait, Dorian develops a distorted moral conscience.

Abstract Aestheticism in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of...

They don't see themselves for who they actually are, their personality which is on the inside. In, The Picture of Dorian Gray the character Dorian by nature is a humble charming good- natured fellow; however, once he meets Harry he turns into a secretive, sordid, egotistic human being. An aesthete therefore has to make choices without paying attention to moral or didactic issues. The consequence is a disaster. In the second paragraph of page 94, Dorian describes what he sees while entering his home. It can be bought, and sold, and bartered away. Perhaps the best of these is Dorian Gray's brief journey through the dark and filthy streets that stand in an obtrusive contrast to his luxurious entourage but which also bear a remarkable resemblance to the kind of life he has embraced.

SparkNotes: The Picture of Dorian Gray: Themes

I love her, and I must make her love me…. In the beginning of the novel, Dorian is immature and naïve. Lord Henry advocates the hedonistic pursuit of new experiences as the prime objective in life. Lord Henry changes Dorian with the belief that morals have no legitimate place in life. It can be argued the novel functions as a queer text, however it also delves into aestheticism. However, Lord Henry does take the immoral action of influencing Dorian.

Abstract Aestheticism in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of...

Disguises intensify the artist's personality. There is an argument, then, made by Wilde for a new aestheticism, approached with more constraint than Dorian employs. This is a theme challenged in the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Dorian Gray, once he becomes aware his portrait will bear the scars of his corruption — thus leaving his actual appearance unstained — feels free to ignore the pious morality that pervaded the Victorian era. I think he is telling us to live a full and moral life.

SparkNotes: The Picture of Dorian Gray: Themes

Each one of the characters lives up to certain aesthetic ideals, despite gradual changes in behavior which we can witness throughout the novel. But it is not this weakness of beauty to age that brings the disaster upon our protagonist. This trace of goodness is not enough to save Dorian, for he has crossed too far towards the perverted side of aestheticism and cannot escape it. He defines the artist as a creator of beautiful things. He gives Dorian a book about a man who seeks beauty in evil sensations. As soon as his soul has left the world, so will he. Dorian is unable to find an equilibrium between these three subconsciouses; he feels as though he needs to conform and become a hedonistic aesthete like Lord Henry, or lead a life that coincides with the moral idealism Basil represents.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

It would make me in love with love for the rest of my life. When Dorian recognizes the change in the portrait, his relationship to Basil changes radically. Once the portrait is destroyed, his soul would be destroyed as well. The Picture of Dorian Gray. That which is agreeable, is so because there is a personal interest in it, which will cause one to seek it out.